Improvement in harness-pad block



@anni @time J. ZIMMER, JR., 0F HLFDAY, ILLINQIS.

Letters Patent No. 96,860, dated November 16, 1869.

IMPOVEMENT IN HARNESS-PAD BLOCK.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J. ZtMMEn,.T1-., of Halfday,

in the county of Lake, and State of Illinois, have in- Its nature consists in the use and application of aYV flexible-steel clan'iping-bow, which is operated, in combination with a-padblock anda screw, for the purpose of giving a more perfect form to a pad near the middle ofthe bloclgas the whole is hereinafter described.

A represents -a wooden block, which is made to conform'to the. shape which the pad is to have when finished, a groove, C', being made in its edge, for the convenience of holding the clamping-bow D in place, a1id`also to turn the margin ot' the leather outward, for the convenience of stitching it to the back lea-ther over the pad.

Ihe clamping-bow D is made of spring-steel, in order that the leather formed over the block at the central part of the pad may be properly compressed, and its ends are turned outward for the purpose ot' instelling to links or chains, H.

This dexible bow is a very important part of the invention, as the long sides of the pad-block are frequently but little curved; hence, any' ordinary chain or rope would not sufficiently clamp the leather to the central part of the block, to form a perfect pad.

The bow, however, should not be so stili" as to prevent it from being readily removed, to loosen the leather fromethe block when the pad is formed.

These links hook into a bar, G, which has a screwthread in it, to receive a screw, F, with which the bow D is drawn closely into the groove C. Aplatc, B, being fastened to the end oi' the block A, provides a solid bearing f'or the end of the screw'Ffand the ends of the plate having notches, C, oontinming to the shape ofthe groove C,`.holds the .how I) in place, and prevents the wood at that end of the block from splitting, should the links draw the how D more to one side of the block than the other.

To use this device, remove the hooks E Iil from the links H, and remove the bow D from the block A.

Ihe leather I, lig. 1, is put on block A, and the bow D put over it, and drawn by screw Ii closely into the groove C.

The leather is then rubbed down, inthe usual manner, and allowed to stand until the crimp is tirmly set.

rIhe crimpin,r and forming leather over blocks is an art well known; nothing is, thereiiire, claimed in this regard, but the arrangement oi' partshcrein mentioned is assumed to be new. Y

As to practical utility, athorough test has proven that one'man, with its aid, can pcriorm at least the work of eight men using the ordinary means.

Having thus described my invention, I do not claim the forming oi leather over blocks; but

\Vhat l do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe ilexible clamping-bow D, arranged to clamp the leather equally to the long sides of the block A, in combination with said block, the bar G', links- H, screw F, and plate B, as set forth.

J. ZIMMER, JR. Witnesses:

G. L. CHAPIN, E. E. GIBSON. 

